Apparatus for boring



Feb. 14, 1939. v. PEREBASKINE ET; AL 2,147,214

APPARATUS FOR 803 ING Filed Sept. 15, 1936 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wPe're'baskl'na 7? Gravirowsldy 9 S N I Feb. 14, 1939. V. PEREBASKINEr-:r AL 2,14731'4 APPARATUS FOR BORING Filed Sept. 15, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. I v E ET K 2,147,214

APPARATUS FOR BORING Filed Sept. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Feb. 14, 1939.v. PEREBEASKINE ET AL 2,147,214

APPARATUS FOR BORING Filed Sept. 15, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR BORINGApplication September 15, 1936 Serial No. 100,938

In France September 28, 1935 17 Claims.

The method of boring which is the object of the present inventionpermits a considerable reduction in the number of these vertical boringswhen'the level of the petroleum layer is approxi-- mately known as isgenerally the case. According to the invention a method of boring with arigid boring rod consists in arranging at any point in a vertical orsubstantially vertical shaft, one or more side bore holes. These boreholes may be horizontal or oblique.

Further when an existing shaft is producing petroleum it is known thatits delivery progressively decreases although the layer may be far fromexhausted while a new shaft arranged near the first is giving a highdelivery. This phenomenon is due ,to a kind of autocementation of thewalls of the shaft, by solid particles driven by the petroleum and themethod which is the object of the present invention avoids the necessityof boring an adjacent vertical shaft and permits the existing shaft todeliver at least a part of, its

maximum capacity by merely piercing its walls.

Finally a productive vertical shaft provided with horizontal or obliquebranches of only a few dozen metres in length permits the exploitationof a much greater region than a simple vertical shaft and is inconsequence equivalent to several vertical shafts.

The process according to the present invention can of course be alsoapplied to the boring of water wells. Another possible application isthe consolidation of mellow or broken-up soil by injecting cement underpressure as in modern public works of technique.

The practical application of this process presents a certain number ofdifliculties which have been overcome by meansof the apparatus which isalso the object of the invention.

This apparatus is constituted essentially by a hollow cylindrical bodywhich is caused to descend .into the vertical shaft to the desired depthand in which are enclosed a number of sections of tubes suflicient toform end to. end the desired horizontal or oblique tubing. Thesesections are preferably superposed on a vertical rigid loading a machinegun and an extractor mechanism effects their successive ejection througha lateral orifice in the cylindrical body. 7

The resistance presented by the earth to the advance of the horizontalor inclined tubing is overcome by means of a rotating or percussion toolarranged in-the head of the first tube section. The drivingforcenecessary in order to actuate the said tool and the ejection mechanismmay be in a horizontal direction, or other means may be used such aspneumatic or electrical. It is led to the apparatus through the'tube ortubes which support it at the ground.

The different tube sections may be assembled together'in any suitablemanner, for example by 15 a conical friction joint, by screwing or by abayonet joint, etc. The continuous tubing thus formed can subsequentlybe removed from the shaft and automatically withdrawn into thecylindrical body. It can also remain in the horizontal or obliqueboring. In this case the tube sections preferably present perforationswhich are closed during the boring operation and which are subsequentlyopened by mechanical meansor by a solvent, a mordant, etc.

The description which follows with respect to the accompanying drawingsgiven by way of example will enable the present invention to be betterunderstood.

Figure 1 shows an elevation of the apparatus seen from the side of theejection orifice for the horizontal or inclined boring tubes.

Figure 2 shows the same apparatus, part in profile and part in sectionalong the line 2-2 of Figure 1 before the operation of horizontal orinclined boring.

Figure Sis a profile view showing the horizontal tubing after itsejection from the apparatus and showing as modifications two obliquedirections for the tubing in broken lines.

Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the details of assembly of the tube sections.

Figure 6 shows a method of securing the last tube section to the head ofthe push piece.

Figure 7 is a partial section on a larger scale of the ejector or'extractor mechanism for the tube sections through the'line l'! ofFiglu'es 2 and 8'.

Figure 8 is acrosssection through the line 8-4 of Figures 7 and 9.

Figure 9 is a vertical section through the line 9-9 of Figures 7, 8 and10.

Figures 10 and 11 are cross sectionsthrough the lines ll-III andII-llofFigures'landQ respectively.

Figure 12 shows in perspective a detail of the device for deadening thefall of the frame supporting the tube sections inside the apparatus.

Figures 12 and 12b show respectively transverse and longitudinalsections on a large scale of the device for declutching the rotationmechanism from the head of the driving device.

Figure 13 is a partial section on a larger scale corresponding to Figure7 and in the plan of section along the line I 3-l 3 of Figures 14 and15; it shows details of the mechanism for permitting fiovement of theframe carrying the tube secons.

Figure 14 is a partial cross section along the line l4-Il of Figures 13and 15.

Figure 15 is a partial longitudinal section along the line I5-I5 ofFigures 13 and 14.

- Figures 16-18 show in section on a larger scale diflerent positions ofone of the members for controlling movement of the frame.

Figure 19 shows in vertical section a form of embodiment of the head ofthe push piece.

' Figure 20 is a section through the line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a vertical section of a second form of embodiment of thehead of the, push piece.

Figure 22 is an oblique section through the line 22-22 of Figure 21. 1

Figure 23 is an oblique section perpendicular to that of Figure 22through the line 23-23 of Figure 21.

Figure 24 shows in vertical section through the line 24-24 of Figures 25and 26 the device for driving. the tubing when it is arranged so as torotate. a

Figure 25 is a vertical section through the line 25-25 of Figure 24.

Figure 26 is a cross section through the lin 26-26 of Figure 24.- g

' Figure 27' is a plan view of a section of tubing.

Figure 28 is a view corresponding to Figure 27 part in elevation andpart in section.

As shown in Figures 1-4 the apparatus is constituted externally by acasing I of general cylindrical form the lower end 2 of which ispreferably pointed. The said casing I of steel or brass for example isriveted into a cap 3 to which are secured the supporting tubes 4 whichtraverse it and terminate inside the casing I.

The casing I comprises a lateral orifice 5 through which aresuccessively ejected the different sections of horizontal tubing 6. Asshown at 6a and 6b in Figure 3 tubing may also be oblique towards theupper or lower part according to any desired angle.

Before the operation the magazine contained in the casing I is suppliedwith tubes and the first tube section I which carries the boring-tool 8is introduced into the orifice 5, the tool 8 alone projecting outside(Figure 2). The apparatus which is susp nded by a column of tubes 4 iscaused to descend in the main vertical (or inclined) shaft to the depthat which itjs desired to effect the lateral boring. .The motor fordriving the tool 8 and theejector mechanism of the tubes is thenstarted.

.The tool 8 is actuated by means of any type of hydraulic motor placedin the head tube section I a speed reduction device being interposed.This motor may be for example of the known type with two eccentricrotors. The casing I and the tubing 6 being fluid-tight (or nearly so)the fluid under pressure is led from the surface f the earth through thetubes 4 and upon issuingfrom the motor it expands at the head of theshaft thereby facilitating the work of the tool 8.

In the simplest form of embodiment the successive sections of tubing Iare assembled by a conical joint as shown in Figure 5. Their extractionor ejection is effected by means of mechanism desfribed hereunderwithreference to Figures 7 to 8.

Inside the cylinder I is lodged a fixed magazine 9 in which a frame II!can slide parallel to the axis of the casing I (Figure 7). This framehas the form of a kind of ladder on each rung II of which rests one ofthe tube sections 6a.. The part of the magazine 9 which is above thelevel Ill-I of the orifice has a width which is just sufilcient to allowthe frame III with the tube 6 to slide without friction. This partcomprises a lateral branch I2 through which the tubes can pass one byone to face the ejection orifice 5 in the position 6a. Below this levelthe magazine 9 is extended towards the base by a narrow part 9a in whichthe lower part of the frame III which is freed from the tubes 6 isprogressively removed.

Each tube 8 is held against-the corresponding round II by a spring I3secured to the round immediately above. Further at each round II ispivoted a bent lever ll of which the free arm bears on the tube 6.During the descent of the frame III the back of this lever meets theshoulder I5 of the magazine; the lever rocks and pushes the tube 6 intothe lateral cavity I2. The spring I3 then becomes placed vertically insuch a way as not to oppose the descent of the frame in the passage 9a.This descent takes place in jerks following the same rhythm as theejection of the tubes 6 either by hand or automatically by means of anejector mechanism which is hereinunder.

described.

The ejector mechanism (shown particularly in Figure 9) comprises anoscillating lever or push piece I6 which is pivoted around a horizontalshaft 8| and the free end of which carries freely pivoted at 82 acylindrical head I9. This head applies itself against one end of thetube 6a and the movement of the push piece I6 effects a partialexpulsion of this tube (position shown by broken lines in Figure 9). Thespace thus'left free is then occupied by the following section'of tubingwhich is ejected in its turn and which by pushing the preceding sectionof tubing becomes connected to it and completely ejects it from theapparatus.

The alternating motion of the push piece I6 is produced by means of asmall hydraulic motor with pistons II (Figure 8) of which the rods I8operate on a spindle I90, engaged in a slot 20 of the lever I5. Thismovement is also transmitted to the device for moving the frame II) inthe following manner (Figures 13-18).

In the metal frame which contains the motor I'I, I8 and which forms atthe same time the magazine 9, can'slide obliquely a tongue 2I (Figs.13-15); a spring 22 tends to push it towards the passage 9a to theposition in which its tip supports the frame ID by one of the rounds II.Nevertheless the force of the spring 22 is slightly less than the weightof the frame I0 sothat the latter pushes back the tongue when it is notlocked slot 26 of the bent lever 21 which pivots around a horizontalfixed shaft 28. The other arm of this lever is pivoted at 29 to one endof a horizontal slide block 30 the other end of which is pivoted at 32to a rocking tip 3| (see particularly Figures 16 and 17). The said tip3| co-operates with a pivoting tip 33 carried by the push piece I6, thesaid tip 33 being effective only during the return movement of the pushpiece |6 Figures 16 and 17) which during the advance movement it yieldsinto alodgement 34 against the action of a blade spring 35 (Figure 18).At the end of the path the tip 3| can also yield into a lodgement 36against the action of a blade spring 31 (Figure 17). Under theseconditions the two tips 3| and 33 co-operate effectively only during aperiod which is just sufiicient to cause the bent lever 21 to pivot andthus disengage the tongue 2|; when the push piece l6 has passed therecess 36 in its return path the tip 33 pivots to pass tip 3| which thenagain takes up its position as in .Figure 16 under the action of thespring 3'|.'

Due to the action of the spring 24 the bolt 23 again takes up itslocking position and brings forward the slide block 30 by means of thelever 21, the spring 22 having returned the tongue 2|.

The frame I8 is prevented from falling abruptly by an oil damper shownin the lower part of Figure '7. This damper is constituted by a slideblock 38 arranged obliquely in the same frame as the hydraulic motor andbelow it. At its upper end this slide block supports one of the roundsII which rests on rollers 39 (Figure 12) carried by the tip of the slideblock; the latter has a recess 40 connected to permit the passage of thesprings l3. At its lower curved end 4| the slide block 38 engages withthe spring 42 which constantly tends to lift it, but the strength ofwhich is less than the weight of the frame l0, and also engages with theend of the rod 42a of the piston which moves in the oil cylinder 42b ofthe damper. p

When the tongue 2| releases the frame ID, the weight of the frameproduces a progressive inclined movement of the slide block 38; at theinstant when through this movement the frame becomes free from the block38 and would begin to descend and fall freely, it is stopped by theengagement of the next higher bar H on the tongue 2|. The slide block 38then engages with another bar. g

When the tubing 6 is completely buried in the ground, it.can either becut off flush with the cylindrical casing in order to disengage thelatter and allow it to be brought back to the surface, or it can bedriven completely outside the casing in order, for example, to preventthe horizontal or oblique bore hole from collapsing if the tubing meansof a guillotine device-(Figures 1-4).

The cap 3 is arranged so as to be able to slide on the upper part ofthe'casing I but it is normally prevented from doing so by rivets 43which joinit to the said casing with a certain amount of vertical play.The .cap 3 comprises towards the lower part an extension 44 forming a;guillotine or drop door which can slide against a flat part 45 of thecylinder in the same way as a distribution slide valve on its slideface. The lower end of the guillotine 44 terminates in a cutting edge 46similar to that of a cold chisel.

When it is desired to cut off the tubing 6 an alternating force isexerted from ground level on the column of tubes 4 thereby producingshearing of the rivets 43 (formed for example of soft metal such ascopper) due to the fact that the cylinder is held stationary, and isintegral with the tubing 6.

After fracture of the rivets the column of tubes 4 is operated on as arammer causing the guillotine 44 to'fall several times on the tubingwhichis finally cut.

In order to drive the tubing completely outside the cylinder the head I9of the push piece l6 can be provided with claws 41 (Figure 6) and asupplementary section 6b is placed in the magazine above the sections 6intended to form the tubing. This section 6b is provided at its rearpart with an annular groove 48 in which the claws 41 can grip. Duringthe driving inof the tubes 6, the said claws 41 have no action on theirsmooth surface. On the other hand, when the additional tube Sb has beendriven in the head IQ of the push piece remains connected to the tube 5band brings it back inside the cylinder during its return path, Thetubing 5 is thus separated from the cylindrical body The tubing 6 whichremains in the groundis preferably pierced by holes 49 in order to giveaccess for petroleum, water or any other natural liquid to the inside ofthe tube, or on the other hand to permit the tube to be supplied withcement or any other substance to be injected. During the boring,however, the tubing 6 must be fluid tight; for this purpose the holes 49can be temporarily closed by a suitable substance which after boring isfinished can be removed by a solvent, or the holes can be closed by anyother motor actuating these devices being placed either at the groundsurface or at any other place; finally the advance of the tubing throughthe ground can be effected not by a special motor lodged in the headsection and actuating the tool 8 but by the rotation of the tubeassembly.

In Figures '7, 8 and 10, additional mechanism is shown for producing therotation of the tubes 6 necessary for assembling the tubes by screwingor by bayonet joints.- A dovetail rack 50 which moves integrally withthe piston rod l8 of the motor engages with a toothed pinion 5| keyed ona vertical shaft 52; on this shaft is also keyed a conical pinion 53engaging with a second pinion 54. The rotation of the horizontal shaft55 which carries the said pinion 54 is transmitted to a toothed wheel 56through a coupling 51 (Figure 10) This coupling is constituted by twosmall concentric cylinders '51 and 51a, one of which is integral withthe shaft 55 and the other with the wheel 56, and which normally engagewith one another by radial fingers 51b resilier tly tain limit, thesefingers yield and the movement is declutched (Figures 120. and 12b).

By means of a pinion 58 the motion of the wheel 56 is transmitted to theheadlii of the push piece which is therefore toothed and adapted torotate (Figures 19 and 20). When the head l9 passes into the plane ofthe pinion 58 the latter imparts the rotational movement necessary inorder to effect the screwing of the section 6a into the tubesectionpreviously driven into the ground. For this purpose the rotatinghead I!) is provided with projections which engage in a correspondinggroove at the rear end of the tube 6a. When the screwing in is completedthe re-' sistance opposed to the rotation of the head becomesconsiderable thereby causing the declutching of the coupling 51.

According to another modification the sections can be screwed withoutrotation by the head l9 by means of simple pressure on the tube 6a whichis provided with a screw thread with very inclined threads.

If it is desired to effect the boring by rotating the assembly of thetubing 6 a mechanism similar to that hereinabove described can be usedor the mechanism shown in Figures 24-28.

In this case the tubes 6 are provided either with grooves or with fiatsurfaces or with an oval section (Figures 25, 26, 27, 28).

The rotation of the tube assembly or of other members may, if desired,be eifected' by means of electric motors placed inside the hollow body.

As shown in Figures 24-26 the tube 6a engages in the central opening ofthe toothed wheel 59 which rotates in a bearing 60; this opening is ofexactly the same section as the tube 641. The rotation of the wheel 59is produced by means of gearing GI, 62, 63, 64, through a vertical shaft65 which either may be actuated by a motor arranged in the casing Iasindicated at M in Fig. 24 or may be extended up to the surface of theground and actuated by an external motor.

In order to prevent any rotation of the tube sections with respect toone another their assemblycomprises in this case a locking device 66. 61(Figures 27, 28). The head 19 of the push piece, i6 is preferablymounted so as to be able to turn idly on a support in order to followthe rotation of the tubing.

Finally the tubes 6 can be automatically connected to or disconnectedfrom'the head l9 ac'- cording to the position of the .push piece l6(Figures 21-23) in the following manner. Each tube section 6 isterminated at its rear part by an internally conical part 68. Into thisconical cavity penetrates a split sleeve 69 integral with the head 19 ofthe push piece; this sleeve can be dilated by the frustro-conicalmandrel 10 when the latter is advanced; this translator-y movement iscaused by the transformation by means of a screw thread H of therotational movement imparted to the shaft 12 of the mandrel 10 through asmall lever rod mechanism 1-3, I4 lodged in the head Hi. This mechanismreceives a recti- Nlinear movement of a rod I5 which a spring I5 Aninterrupted-groove 'I'I, I8 arranged in the J guide wall of the head [9permits the rod 15 to emergeat the two ends of the path of the pushpiece liberating the tube 6 (Figure 22) while this tube is connected tothe head [8 during the median part of the path due to the dilatation ofthe sleeve 59.

mounted; when the resisting force exceeds a cer- Having now describedour invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent is:-

1. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a main vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body adapted to be lowered down said vertical shaft,said hollow body containing a magazine in which mechanism for thesuccessive ejection of said tube sections through a lateral orifice, insaid hollow body.

2. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a main vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body, said hollow body containing firstly a magazinein which rigid tube sections are superposed on a loading device andsecondly an ejector mechanism for the successive ejection of said tubesections through a lateral orifice in said hollow body, the first tubesection carrying at its head a boring tool and being provided with amotor actuating said tool.

3. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a main vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body containing a magazine in which rigid tubesections are superposed on a loading device, an ejector mechanism forthe successive ejection of said tubes through a lateral orifice in saidhollow body and means for assembling said tube sece are arranged rigidtube sections and an ejector tions, the first tube section carrying aboring tool said hollow body and means for assembling said tubesections, the first tube section carrying a boring tool at its head andbeing provided with a motor actuating said tool, which motor and themotor driving the ejector mechanism are operated by compressed fluid ledfrom the ground surface through at least one tube which also supportsthe apparatus.

5. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a main vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body containing amagazine in which rigid tubesections are superposed on a loading device and a motor-operatedreciprocating ejector mechanism for the successive ejection of saidtubes through a lateral orifice in said hollow body, the first tubesection carrying a boring tool at its head and being provided with amotor actuating said tool, which motor and the motor driving the ejectormechanism are operated by compressed fluid led from the ground surfacethrough at least one tube which also supports the apparatus, said hollowbody also containing means for assembling said tube sections and avertical movable frame which holds the different tube sections in -themechanism and'which is adaptedto be displaced in jerks with the samerhythm as the reciprocating movement'of the ejector mechanism.

6, Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the motion of the movableframe is stopped by a slide block resiliently mounted and locked at asuitable instant by a mechanism operated by the ejector mechanism. a

'7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ejector mechanism isconstituted by an oscillating push-piece.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ejectormechanism isconstituted by an advancing screw.

9. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a. vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body containing a magazine in which rigid tubesections are superposed on a loading device and a motoroperatedoscillating push-piece for the successive ejection of said tubes througha lateral orifice in said hollow body, the first tube section beingprovided with a boring tool and a motor actuating said tool, which motorandthe motor driving the push-piece are operated by compressed fluid ledfrom the ground surface through at least one tube which also supportsthe apparatus, said hollow body also containing means for assemblingsaid tube sections, a movable frame supporting the tube sections andadapted to move intermittently in step with the push-piece, means forrendering said push-piece integral with a tube section during rotationand transmission means for transmitting rotating movement to saidpushpiece.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a cutting device fordisengaging the hollow body from the tubing which has been ejectedoutside saidhollow body.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a cutting deviceconstituted by a guillotine movable vertically along and outside thehollow body and actuated at ground level for disengaging the hollow bodyfrom the tubing which has been ejected outside said hollow body.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a supplementary tube sectionis arranged in the magazine in order to drive the tubing completelyoutside the hollow body, said section comprising a device for connectingit to the push-piece head to enable the push-piece to be brought backinside the hollow body.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein a supplementary tube sectionis arranged in the magazine in order to drive the tubing completelyoutside the hollow body, said section being provided with an annulargroove in which can engage claws carried by the push-piece head toenable the push-piece to be brought back inside the hollow body.

14. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a supplementary tube sectionis arranged in the magazine in order to drive the tubing completelyoutside the hollow body, said supplementary section comprising a splitsleeve adapted to expand and penetrate into a conical-shaped rear end ofan inner recess in said tube section for connecting to the push-piecehead to enable the push-piece to be brought back inside the hollow body.

' 15. Apparatus for constructing side boreholes in a vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body containing a magazine in which rigid tubesections are superposed on a loading device, an ejector mechanism forthe successive ejection of said tubes through a lateral orifice in saidhollow body, means for efiecting the advance of the tubing in the groundby the rotation of said tubing and locking means for locking the tubeassembly formed by the tube sections.

16. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body containing a magazine in which rigid tubesections are superposed on a loading device, a reciprocating push-piecefor the successive ejection of said tubes through a lateral orifice insaid hollow body, means for rotating the head of said push-piece toeffect the advance of the tubing in the ground by the rotation of saidtubing, and locking means for locking the tube assembly formed by thetube sections.

1'7. Apparatus for constructing side bore holes in a vertical shaftcomprising a hollow body containing a magazine in which rigidnon-circular tube sections are superposed on a loading device, anejector mechanism for the successive ejection of said tubes through alateral orifice in said hollow body, a toothed wheel having a centralnoncircular aperture of the same shape as the tube sections throughwhich the tube sections are inserted, said sections being set inrotation and thus advanced in the ground by the rotation of said toothedwheel, and locking means for locking the tube assembly formed by thetube sections.

vrc'roa PEREBASmIE. PIERRE P. aRAvraowsKY; snaon anrzrrnm.

